Hay Bale RFID Reader Antenna Configuration

A bale handling mechanism for lifting and moving a bale, the bale handling mechanism comprising:

• a structural frame, wherein the frame has a plurality of bale spears extending forwardly therefrom configured to engage and penetrate a bale so that the bale is received on the bale handling mechanism substantially adjacent a bale-facing plane that is defined by the points on the bale handling mechanism that contact the closest vertical surface of a bale that is fully received on the bale handling mechanism;
• at least one antenna mount affixed to the frame, the antenna mount having a mount axis that is parallel with the bale-facing plane formed by the frame;
• and
• an antenna pair attached to the antenna mount, the antenna pair configured to interact with an identification tag on a bale carried on the bale handling mechanism, the antenna pair includes a first antenna and a second antenna, each of the first antenna and the second antenna having an antenna axis that is perpendicular to a beam axis of the antenna, wherein the first antenna and second antenna are oriented such that the antenna axis of the first antenna is non-parallel with the antenna axis of the second antenna so that each of the first antenna and second antenna has an antenna axis that is angled relative the mount axis such that together the antenna axis and mount axis form an angle, wherein the first antenna and second antenna of the antenna pair are oriented on the bale handling mechanism in a configuration which is non-parallel to the bale-facing plane of the frame and thus the vertical face of the bale that is being handled on the bale handling mechanism.